Better than the streets

Marissa Conant is a 2009 graduate of Jordan-Elbridge High School and a freshman at OCC. She wrote this essay for Voices.

Within the past few years Carousel Mall decided to enforce what I think is an absurd curfew for those under 18. The mall is a common hang out for teens looking for something to do on a rainy day. Now Carousel has wasted money hiring these "red coats" to patrol the mall and basically ruin teen’s fun. All they do is walk around and radio each other about kids who look under 18. If some of these teens weren’t at the mall where else could they be? Smoking? Drinking? Doing drugs? Getting in all sorts of trouble. So why does it seem like a good idea to kick them out of the mall where they are safe? To me, it doesn’t. If they aren’t causing problems in the mall than they shouldn’t have to leave.